Penguins Sign Defenseman Brian Strait

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Brian Strait to a three-year entry-level contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Strait, 21, collected seven points (two goals, five assists) along with 67 penalty minutes in 38 games with the National Champion Boston University Terriers this season.

The 6-1, 205-pound defenseman played three seasons from 2006-2009, tallying 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) and 134 penalty minutes in 111 career games with the Terriers. Strait was named runner-up for the 2007-08 Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman.

Before joining Boston University, Strait played two seasons with the U.S. National Under-18 Team from 2004-2006. The blue-liner captained the gold-medal winning Team USA in the 2006 International Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championships. Strait scored 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in two seasons with the U.S. Development Program.

The native of Boston, Massachusetts was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (65th overall) of the 2006 Entry Draft.